NAHL Alumni Update

McAdam made 39 saves and picked up an assist as Penn State completed a series sweep of Wisconsin with a 4-1 victory on Saturday. He recorded at least 12 saves in each period on his way to a .975 save percentage and 1.00 goals-against average (GAA) in the contest. Eamon improved to 9-2-0 on the season as he leads the Big Ten with a .932 save percentage and 2.18 GAA this season. He earns his third career weekly award and second of the season. McAdam played in the NAHL during the 2010-11 season for the Austin Bruins.

Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week: Rob Nichols, UConn (Wenatchee Wild, 2011-13)

Nichols stopped 82 of 83 shots he faced at Maine last weekend, including a career-high 44 in Friday's 1-0 win. His play helped backstop UConn take three of four points in an undefeated weekend in Orono. Nichols played in the NAHL two full seasons from 2011-13, both for the Wenatchee Wild. During the 2011-12 season, he shared both the NAHL Rookie of the Year and Goaltender of the Year honors with Connor Hellebuyck.

Kane tied for the league lead in points with seven (4-3—7) as the Blackhawks (31-13-4, 66 points) won all four starts to move into first place in the Central Division. Kane began the week by recording one assist in a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators Jan. 12. On Jan. 14 he was held pointless in a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens before notching his first career regular-season hat trick (623 GP) -- including the game-winning goal -- and adding one assist in a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 15. Kane closed the week by recording one goal and one assist in a 5-2 win over Montreal on Jan. 17 to help the Blackhawks equal a franchise record with 11 consecutive victories. The 27 year-old Buffalo, NY, native leads the League in goals (29), assists (40) and points (69). Throughout the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, Kane played in 55 career NAHL games.

Heading into his second pro season, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' (AHL) and former NAHL/Corpus Christi IceRays goalie Anthony Stolarz was working with the new goalie development coach the Flyers hired in August, Brady Robinson. Stolarz, who turned 22 on Wednesday, has seen a dramatic improvement in his stats from last year (3.28 goals against average, .905 save percentage) and is playing with much more confidence. He's lowered his GAA to 2.18 so far this season and has a .925 save percentage to go along with it, both seventh-best in the AHL. Those numbers helped him earn his first career AHL All-Star nod last week — an achievement that has also strengthened his poise. "It's a great feeling," Stolarz said of his All-Star nod. "It gives me a boost of confidence to be recognized by other coaches, and to be selected for that is an honor." (read the rest of the story)

12 NAHL Alumni have been named in the initial nominations and list of players for the 2016 Hobey Baker Award. The Hobey Baker Award, is the most coveted award in men’s collegiate hockey, given to the top NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Player in the Nation. The 12 NAHL alumni that are on the initial list are:

Cal Petersen, G, Notre Dame (Topeka)

Greg Gibson, F, Robert Morris (Amarillo)

Atte Tolvanen, G, Northern Michigan (Minot, MN Magicians)

Adam Chapie, F, UMass-Lowell (New Mexico)

Max McHugh, F, Alabama-Huntsville (Wenatchee)

Mario Puskarich, F, Vermont (Wenatchee)

Colin Delia, G, Merrimack (Amarillo)

Hampus Gustafsson, F, Merrimack (Amarillo)

Kasimir Kaskisuo, G, Minnesota-Duluth (MN Wilderness)

Brian Christie, F, Merrimack (Topeka)

Merrick Madsen, G, Harvard (Minot)

Kyle Schempp, F, Ferris State (Traverse City)

Know if any NAHL alum doing something special? Send us an email and let us know!